Suspension arrangement for vehicles



March 22, E AT'H SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENT FOR VEHICLES s Sheets-Sheet Filed May 6. 1927 March 22, 1932.

E; BUGATTI SUSPENSIO N ARRANGEMENT FOR VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6. 1927 March 22, E BUGATT] SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENT FOR VEHICLES Filed May 6. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 22, 1932 om-TED- .SI'TJATES;

PATENT r ETTORE BUGATTI, F MOLSHEIM, FRIANCE SUSPENSION ARRANG MENT. FOR vninenrsv Application filed May 6, 1927,. Serial No. 189,401; and in France May 1'8, 1926.

The suspensions in current use upon-motor:

vehicles" and the like consists as-a rule of one I or more springs which are connected at one end with the vehicle frame and at the other 1 i with the front or rear axle, thesprings being connectedwith'the said frame by stationary means or by shackles. .7

positions of such springs, no complete deloscription of the same will be attempted. 7, In 7 allcases, the workzis identical. If there is an obstacle'on the road, either projecting orsunken, the wheel rises rapidly, flattens the spring, and draws with it the vehicle frame which continues its upward motion. When the wheel has cleared the obstacle it will be abruptly brought upon the groundby the motion of the spring which has been flattened by the shock. This rapid descent of the this motion is more abrupt asthe vehicle travels at a higher speed. Before the vehicle returns to the normal, there will be produced a set of oscillations which are longer as the suspension is easier and softer.

To obviate such rapid and abrupt motion I prises shock p absorbers which exercise a braking action u on the rise and descent (or the descentalone of theaxle with reference to the vehicle frameybut the disadvantage of" this arrangement consists in the fact that the absorber will always brake the parts withthe same force, thus acting with the same power 3 for. a large and'abrupt' shock or a small shock.

It is therefore desirable to employ a progressive suspension in which the effort. required for the flattening of the spring will increase as theaction continues, and thisis.

" the object of the presentinvention, in which I there is disposed between the spring andthe Due tothe great variety of forms and dis-- wheel is often termed a racket. stroke," andhand oscillations, the suspension often'com when flattened after a'shock received by the manner in which the said invention is carriedintoeif'ect.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a construction in-which a rubber member is employed for the progressive braking, and Fig. 1 is a section on the line X'X of Fig. 1. i Fig. 1 is a separate view of the forked bracket. Y

Figs. 3 and 4 show a construction in which a spring serves for the progressive braking. Fig. 5 shows a suspension comprising a half-elliptical supporting spring and a quarter-elliptical braking spring. Fig. 6 is a construction similar toFigs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, but comprising a quarter-elliptical braking spring 5 I- Inthe deviceshown in Fig. 1, the suspension consists of a quarter of an elliptical. spring 1 attached at one end to a member 2' which is rotatable ona pin 3 supported by a forked bracket 4 provided with an abutment 5'which prevents the member 2 from exceed ing a certain position after which the spring willcommence to operate. i To increase. the elastic load of the spring at each instant, there is interposed between the vehicle frame and thespring 1' an elastic mass 6,and when it is flattened it will set up a force of reaction which increases until equilibrium; is obtained. i

With this arrangement, the motion assumed by a point of the spring is a motion. which is retarded in a practically uniform manner and which ceases when in the position of equilibrium. The stress imparted to bring thewheel to. the ground will be very 35? great at first, and it then diminishes by de grees and becomes null at the time when the spring begins topivot on the axis 3and leaves the abutment 5. The wheel then remains on the ground and the frame progressively assumes its initial position relatively. to the,

spring, this motion taking place; without shocks and with an easy efiec Fig. 2 shows the-position ofthe spring 5* wheel. The said elastic mass, instead-of bearing at aysingle" point a'willbear upon a great length ay-b, thus reducing the bendingmo- .ment, as above statedf -:Figs., 3 and 4=ShOW respectively in -the 1 initial-position and'in the flattened position a suspension device similar to the preceding,

but herein the elastic mass 6 is replaced by a spring 7 so disposed that whent spring, to which is herein'added'a quarterelliptical spring pivotally inountedon the axle 3 adapted for progressive braking, to which is added the. absorbing spring 30. It is obvious that these'three springs need not be situated in the same plan'e and that the springs 20 and may be situated at the front or the rear ofthespring pri 9 i p v a y m unte .o he a l frame "T spring .9 will I b 'p sirely '6 and the spring andadaptedto come in con- A i rensw spring pivotally mounted at one end on the braked by anj elastic mass 6 asshown in the; figure or by a sprin as irthe preceding case. To obviate all shoclis between the members 2;

of the suspension-spring}and the abutment it is-simply necessary that the preliminary tension load of the elzisticrriassdtorof the spring? shall exceed or shall at least-equal the r weight supported by the spring lf jafi'thi's' point, and this weight is about equal toone foiir ththe total weight ofthe vehicle. 5

for vehicles comprisinga vehicle frame andicarryiiig at the other end the wheel axle, and an', elastic abutment mounted on the vehicle frame between said frame and thespring andlada'pted to come in contact with a gradually increasing portion of the springas the same is being compressed.

2. A suspension for vehicles comprising a spring pivotally mounted at one end on the vehicle frame and carrying at the other end length of the spring as the same is compressed by anupward motion of the wheel.

3. Asuspension forvehicles comprising a spring pivotally mounted at one end on the vehicle frame andcarrying at the other end thewheelaxle, and a spring abutment mount-o ed on the vehicle'frame between said frame Fig. 6 is a suspension comprising a quarterh :elliptical spring secured to; the rear of the vehicle frame and extending towards the front, the front part being connected with the vehicle axle S; to be suspended; the absorbing in which is secured to the vehicle frame.

s The eouter endof the spring Q-is secured to theiaKle Sby a forked braclieitlO rotatable on: thefvehicle axle 8; bracket n1ay"be;'re- F y a h w le .11 s isc mmonly emf-If ployed for connecting thef springs withthew 6. A suspension spring will be diminished. the wheel axle and an elastic wedge-shaped mass mounted on the vehicle frame between said frame and the spring and adapted to come in contact with a gradually increasing tact with a gradually increasing length of the springas the same is compressed by an upward motion of the wheel.;

4. A suspension device for vehicles comprising a spri;ng, means for suspending the said spring fr'omgjthe vehicle frame while allowing it to pivot on a'horizontal' pin, an abut-- mcnt limiting the-oscillation of said spring on the said horizontal pin, an elastic device interposed between the spring and the vehicle frame and so disposed that the said spring will make contact therewith during its upward motion, in such manner that this motion will'be braked while at the same time the bending moment of the spring will be diminished.

- 5 A suspension device for vehicles comprising a spring, means for suspending said spring from the vehicle frame while allowing. it to pivot on a horizontal pin, a plate spring which is secured at one end tothe vehicle frame, said spring being curved in the form of a half-loop and its other end being adapted to make contact at a point near the center of the said suspension spring in such manner that when the suspension spring isbent it will make contact with the said halfloop spring which will progressively brake theupward motion and will diminish the bending moment.

p p for vehicles comprising a spr ng,'means for suspending the said spring "ffli'om the vehicle frame while allowing it to pivot on a horizontal axle, an abutment limitthe oscillation of said spring on said horizontal axle, an elastic wedge-shaped mass interposed between the spring and the vehicle frame and so' disposed that said spring will come in contact therewith during its upward motion, in such manner that this motion will I be braked while at the same time the bending moment of the spring will be gradually decreasedduring this motion.

7. A suspension ClBVlCG for vehicles comprising 'aspr ng,.meansfor pivotally suspending the said spring from the vehicle frame an elastic device interposed between the spring and the vehicle frame and so disposed that the said spring will make contact therewith during its upward motion, in such manner that this motion will be braked while at the same time the bending moment of the I have signed this ETTORE BUGATTI. 

